Sometimes it’s just nice to mix things up a bit. That concept inspired me to get in touch with my friend Conway Bowman and slip away for a couple days of shark fishing in San Diego. Conway is the godfather of fly fishing for sharks and a movie star to boot. Well, maybe not a movie star, but he does spend a lot of time in front of the camera hosting episodes of The Outfitters on the Sportsman’s Channel. When he’s not jetting around the world doing the TV thing or taking care of San Diego’s wetlands (which is like his real job), he’s playing dad to sons Max and Jackson. Conway’s wife, Michelle, is an accomplished angler herself and has tackled Tarpon from a stand-up paddle board, which makes her a serious Rockstar in my book. The Bowman’s are not your typical “Leave it to Beaver” family and thrive on adventure in the outdoors. Surfing, paddling or chasing sharks is just another day in paradise for these folks.

While spending time with Conway waiting for a shark to swim by we were able to solve most of the worlds problems. Subjects ranged from politics, social and environmental issues to the massive El Niño that had scattered the Mako sharks we were seeking. Bonito and other pescado provided some entertainment, but the sharks were less than cooperative. With time ticking away in my two day adventure, a sizable Hammerhead charged into the slick.Conway teased it to the point of aggression with a previously Sea lion mauled Bonito. Soon I was attached to a fairly torqued off tuna chomper and backing melted from my reel. I could say that the hooking and battling of this funky looking fish was the product of my boundless skills and talent, but that would be a bit of a stretch. Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good.

In the end it was a grand adventure, with another species of fish added to the list and warm memories tucked safely away to be retrieved on those wet Oregon days that lay ahead. The world still has problems to solve, but those can be dealt with on the next adventure. With 2016 being an election year, I may need a few extra days chasing sharks.

Spend 6 days fly fishing for bonefish and GT on the world's largest coral atoll! Nick Wheeler is excited to be hosting a trip to Christmas Island this spring and is looking for 6 to 12 anglers to join him on the pristine island flats. This is an amazing opportunity for beginning saltwater anglers and seasoned veterans alike. The trip will be hosted March 15th to 22nd 2016 to take advantage of optimal tides.

The fact that virtually every fly angler in North America has heard of Christmas Island is far from coincidence. Amidst the vast inventory of the world’s saltwater destinations, Christmas Island is a unique and natural masterpiece that magically combines all the elements critical to fly fishing success. Endless hard sand flats, remarkable numbers of cruising bonefish and trevally, and consistent year-round weather await all who visit this unique atoll. Guides at Christmas Island Outfitters have been handpicked for their overall level of experience and skill, calmness under pressure, and instructional abilities. Each day anglers will depart via truck or catamaran for the day’s fishing. Virtually all fishing entails sight casting to visible fish while wading in shallow water.
"Christmas Island is a strange and wondrous saltwater seascape that seems to have been infinitely blessed by the fishing gods. It is a vast Matrix-like network of endless hard sand flats, lagoons, channels and reefs spread out across the Earth’s largest raised coral atoll. The main lagoon harbors the world’s most expansive system of productive shallow water flats. Bonefish, trevalley, trigger fish, sharks, snappers, puffers and milk fish patrol more than 100 named flats perfectly designed for wading fly anglers. Christmas Island is a veritable wonderland for the saltwater fly angler and Christmas Island Outfitters is there to make your dreams come true."

￼Christmas Island’s plentiful bonefish average 2 to 4 pounds, though each week presents numerous opportunities for larger specimens in the 5 to 10 pound class. The guides at Christmas Island Outfitters are also among the atoll’s most skilled and passionate trevally hunters and love nothing more than to share with their guests the thrill of hooking these monsters. Excellent blue water fishing for tuna, wahoo, and trevally is also available. Catering to groups of eight to twelve anglers per week, accommodations at Christmas Island Outfitters consist of seven private bungalows that sleep two anglers each. Rooms are simple, clean and spacious and have private baths, fans, screened windows, and refrigerators. The common meeting area features a friendly bar and a casual dining area where fresh, simple meals are served in the morning and evening hours. Flexible by design to ensure quality fishing, the daily schedule and meal times at Christmas Island Outfitters often vary slightly in order to take advantage of the best tides and fishing conditions.
Whether you are an experienced saltwater angler or a novice keen on honing your flats fishing skills, Christmas Island Outfitters offers the finest and most intimate angling experience the island has to offer.

Monday / March 14th: You will need to arrive in Honolulu on Monday or before.

Tuesday / March 15th:Depart Honolulu. Arrive Christmas Island
The lodge host will meet you after you go through customs and take you to the lodge. You will check into your room and get ready for fishing the next day.

Wednesday – Monday: Six full days of fishing.
The typical daily schedule:
Please keep in mind that your daily schedule will vary in accordance with tides and your fishing desires.

It has been long held that boats and bananas are not a very good combination when it comes to luck. Anglers have especially picked up on this superstition and many skippers prohibit even sunscreen named for this tropical fruit aboard their vessels. Legend has it that banana boats plying the waters of the Caribbean and other waters around the world would be plagued by many maladies caused by the presence of bananas in the ship’s hold. Venomous creatures having stowed away amongst the fruit wandered the decks once the ship was at sea causing crew and passengers to swear off these seemingly harmless snacks.

I’ve been blessed to lead a mostly banana free life. Having declared myself allergic to this silly looking creation at a young age, and in doing so I have avoided any of the bad luck issues caused by bananas. A banana allergy is not as popular or trendy as the gluten variety, it nevertheless serves me well.

While in Mexico chasing Tarpon last year it was brought to my attention that someone had been hiding bananas in the gear bag of a fellow angler, and the culprit was relentless in his efforts to unhinge his target. A formal inquiry was avoided as the trip came to a close without the identity of the protagonist being revealed, yet the scars remained on the psyche of the banana victim.

Fast forward one year and I had gathered another crew to head off on an adventure to South Andros Island, Bahamas. Three members of this group had been with me in Mexico, one being the hapless victim while another being under suspicion of being the Mad Banana Tagger.

Now it should be told that Erv is not your average victim. A retired lawyer, angler, semi-pro Mexican wrestler and part-time animal impersonator, he can hold his own in a battle of wits. He is comfortable in his own skin and firm in his beliefs that luck has little to do with the path we walk on this earth. Yet even he is not one to tempt fate by sailing off with a banana.

To avoid scandal and the chance that Erv would once again fall afoul of the insidious banana bandit I had him teamed with me to share a boat in an effort to keep an eye on him. It did help that the supply boat was long overdue and there were no bananas on the island.

The trip started well as Erv and I managed some good results on the flats even under poor conditions. The Bonefish were plentiful and the weather, although miserably wet, did not dampen our spirits. We enjoyed our time on the water without any concerns of bananas or bad luck. Two days into the trip the weather turned beautiful and sunshine blessed us as the winds dropped to a gentle breeze. Life was good.

Back at the lodge Erv had struck up a friendship with the kitchen staff and treated them to an original poem after the evening meal. The gals seem truly touched by his efforts and young Jasmine asked if he would honor them by wearing a Bahamian good luck charm if they brought it to him in the morning. He promised to do so and went off to bed in anticipation of what the morning would bring.

As daylight filtered across the flat in front of the lodge we gathered for our morning meal before heading off to fish. Erv sat with his breakfast of pancakes and eggs untouched, awaiting the charm that would bring him untold success on the water. What would it be?

Like an angel appearing from nowhere, Jasmine stood next to Erv at the table with his new good luck charm. Erv turned to see what she held. In a instant his face lost it’s expression of wonder replacing it with one of shear terror. In her arms she cradled a full size Chiquita Banana suit. One size fits all. Dutifully, Erv put it on.

With Bonefish guide Burnt Ferguson on the poling platform, the giant banana took his place on the bow as the boat pointed into the sun. Only seconds passed before Burnt called out a school of fish at the 1 o’clock position. A single cast and the Banana Man was fast into a screaming hot Bonefish. I bailed out of the boat with my camera to record this historic moment and watched as Erv and Burnt brought the fish to hand then released it. Erv popped back on the bow and soon found himself attached to another fish. I continued to photograph the action, then slid back into the boat to congratulate him on his busting of the banana curse.

It was my turn on the bow now as Erv sat and relived the Bonefish battles pondering the silliness of his Bananaphobia. He could hardly wait to tell Jasmine and Kathy of his accomplishment with their banana talisman. Burnt commented as he pushed the boat that CNN would love this story or maybe the BBC. Erv wondered out loud where the girls could have possibly found a banana suit on an island in the Bahamas. The guide and giant banana started singing Harry Belafonte’s "Day O," calling for the tally man to tally their bananas.

I scanned the water ahead and prepared to cast at a fish moving to the left from the mangroves. Speaking to no one in particular, but loud enough for all to hear I smiled and said, “Best 35 bucks I’ve ever spent.”

I try to break up the year by planning a Bonefishing trip in the spring, just before things get cranking on the Deschutes with the Salmonfly hatch. This year I'm revisiting South Andros Island in the Bahamas. My last trip to South Andros was fantastic, but the boat ride to the southern tip of the island was a bit brutal when the wind blew. I broke a rib when the boat driver launched us off a big wave. That's why I've settled on Mars Bay Lodge right at the end of the road. No open water runs and just minutes from the flats. In fact, there's a flat right in front of the lodge if you don't get enough fishing during the day.

I'm taking seven anglers on this adventure. Maybe you'd care to join me. Here's more information on the trip...

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￼￼￼￼￼Mars Bay Lodge
Mars Bay is situated on the southeastern tip of Andros and affords anglers a short and easy skiff ride to pristine flats teeming with unpressured bonefish. The lodge itself is located on a flat large enough for a dozen fishermen. Mars Bay is the end of the road. To go any further south you will have to hop in a boat. That puts you ten miles closer to the best fishing grounds on the south end of Andros than the nearest lodge. What does that mean to you? No less than a ten mile shorter run over rough open water and an extra hour fishing each day. By the end of the week you've fished an entire extra day.

Location
Mars Bay Lodge is located on the southeast side of South Andros Island in the Bahamas. The time in the Bahamas is the same as Eastern Standard Time. Google Earth coordinates: 23°51'54.78"N, 77°30'52.48"W.

Accommodations and Meals
There is absolutely nothing pretentious about Mars Bay. The lodge is not a high-end fancy resort. The napkins are paper. They will not crack the pepper for you, you'll not find a mint on your pillow, and you will not be greeted at the dock with a hot steaming towel to wipe your brow. You can grab your own beer and mix your own drink the way you like it. Mars Bay is a fly fishing lodge for sportsmen. Think of it as the difference between a stuffy dinner party and a casual gathering with good friends. The lodge has a laid back vibe to but don't let that fool you. Everything goes off on time and as scheduled. One review said the lodge runs like a Swiss watch.
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￼￼￼￼￼Bill Howard is your host and attends to the details. He is an American owner/operator and has been managing the lodge since it opened in 2002. He catches the fish and lobster for dinner. He maintains all the boats and equipment. He makes all the repairs around the lodge. He orders the supplies, fuels the boat, and carries the coolers. He is hands on and has the reputation as being the hardest working lodge manager in the Bahamas. None of it would be possible without having an excellent staff of cooks, maids, and guides doing their jobs.

Fishing Program
Mars Bay fishes primarily for bonefish with occasional tarpon and permit. Other species encountered include barracuda, jacks and several types of snapper. Ideally located to access the Southern Cays and flats of Andros, the lodge enjoys easy access some of the least pressured flats on the island.

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￼Hosted Trip Itinerary: May 2nd – 9th, 2015

￼￼￼￼￼￼￼￼￼Saturday / May 2nd:
Sunday – Friday:
Arrive Congo Town, Bahamas:
Once you arrive in Congo Town, you will be met by a representative of the lodge who will transfer you (60 minutes) to the lodge by taxi.
Get settled in and prepare gear for the following days of fishing. Six full days of guided fishing on the waters of South Andros Island
Typical Daily Schedule:
5:00AM: Coffee is on
6:30AM: Wake up (if not awake already) 7:00AM: Breakfast is served
7:30AM: Load up and head out to the boats 7:45AM: Fishing
5:00PM: Return to the lodge
6:00PM: Hors d’oeuvres are served

7:00PM: Dinner
Depart Mars Bay Lodge to return home.
￼Saturday / May 9th:
7 night / 6 day package
Angler Rate: $3,950.00 per person based on double occupancy
Included: Accommodations and meals at the lodge, beer & alcohol, transfers between Congo Town airport and the lodge, all ground transportation on South Andros, wireless Internet, guided fishing.
Not Included: Airfare to/from Congo Town (South Andros Airport), staff and guide gratuities.
Confirming your space:
A 50% deposit is required to confirm the trip and the final 50% is due 60 days prior to the trip start date. The trip is limited to 8 anglers and will be booked on a first come first serve basis. To confirm your space please contact:Dylan Rose – Fly Water Travel 800-552-2729Joel La Follette – Royal Treatment 503-850-4397
Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns at any time!

The best flies for Los Roques are smaller and usually light in color. Patterns in size 6 and 8 work very well, with size 6 being probably the most common and productive. Make sure a few of your flies are tied with weed guards. Start with your Bonefish Basics and add a few of the following patterns...

Bonefish Bitters size 6 Olive and Brown

Pink Puff size 6-8 Bead-chain eyes and also 'blind'

Tan Raghead Crab size 6

Gummy Minnow size 6 Silver, Blue and Green (bring plenty)

Clouser Minnow size 6 Grey/white, Tan/white w/bead chain eyes

Gotcha bead chain eyes size 6-8

Exuma Mini Puff 'Cree' size 6-8

Tan Puff size 6-8

Mihieves Flats Fly size 6-8

Snapping shrimp size 8

Crazy Charlie size 6-8 Amber or Crystal Brown

Spawning Shrimp size 6-8

La Follette’s Louie Louie Crab size 4-8

SMALL crab patterns can be deadly, the Raghead works well, but there are many others out there that do just fine. My Louie Louie was designed for Los Roques and it works very well. The important part is that they're on size 6 or 8 hooks and don't have large lead eyes. The smaller, the better. Some weedless patterns are a good idea.

For Cuda, Needlefish or a chartreuse and white Tarpon streamer with plenty of flashabou will work well.

Tarpon anglers should be prepared with a few smaller Cockroaches, Lefty's Deceivers and Flash-tail Whistler in sizes 1, 1/0 and 2/0. Most of the time Tarpon are in shallow water, often rolling or gulping air. Intermediate sinking lines can be handy, although a floater will get it the job done (requires shock tippet leaders 60-80 lb.). The Gummy Minnow is also very productive for Tarpon....as goofy as it is. You’ll want size 2 or larger.

It's important that anglers show up with a good supply of flies as they are not available on Los Roques. If there is a rule for Los Roques Bonefish flies, it’s keep is light! Make sure your Bonefish Basics are stocked with plenty of bead chain or blind flies in size 6 and 8.

1. When traveling, always wear clothes you can fish in. You never know when the rest of you gear will show up.

2. Always carry your rods, reels with lines, leaders and tippets, wading boots, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, medicine, camera, rain jacket and an extra change of clothes on the airplane. You should try to carry on anything that you can’t live without that is allowed by the airlines.

3. Since some flies and tools cannot be carried on the plane they must be checked. If checking two pieces of luggage put a box of flies in each or have a companion check one in theirs.

4. Carry along some favorite snack foods like beef jerky, trail mix, dried fruit or granola bars. Stash more in your checked bags. When leaving the country make sure the packages are unopened. Customs is funny about that sort of thing.

5. Drinking plenty of water is the best way to stay healthy when traveling. If bottled water is not available, bring along a backpacking type filter and use it! Water bottles with built in filters work too.

6. A small portable cooler is a great place to keep your snacks, drinks, camera, extra flies and sunscreen while out on the water. Make sure your camera is in a zip lock bag in case the cooler gets wet. Take plenty of zip locks!

7. Your cash, passport and wallet should be locked up at the lodge or, if that is not an option, on your person. I keep mine in a zip lock bag in my hip pack. Carry plenty of $5.00 and $10.00 for tipping your guides. Also plan on leaving shirts, tackle and other goodies for your guides after trip is over. A new pair of sunglasses make a great gift at the beginning of the week and might help your guide spot that big fish!

8 . Handi-wipes. The best things to carry for cleaning the sunscreen, sweat, and salt off your face. Great for cleaning up before lunch on the flats or on an airplane. Can also be used for…. well, you’ll figure it out. Get the soft packs and carry them in all of your bags. I use three or four packages on a weeklong trip.

9. Make up a small “fix anything kit” to make repairs to glasses, rods, reels, lines, etc. (see my list posted elsewhere on the web site)

10. Chill. Remember you’re on island time and things don’t always go as planned. A good attitude will make even the largest set-back seem like part of the adventure. Don’t be an “Ugly American”, respect the people, their country and culture. Ask questions, share stories, have fun. Leave a little bit of yourself and take home a little of the adventure in your heart.

With many islands to fish in the Bahamas, you will need to have a very good basic selection. Take plenty of the standards in fairly large sizes, 2-6, but don’t forget the skinny water stuff. Places like Long Island have lots of skinny water flats that require light flies. You will even find places that require flies with weed guards. The more the island gets fished, the spookier the fish will be. Heavy flies can send Mr. Bone off the flat in a hurry. Bead chain eyes will be fine for most flats. Some of the larger patterns like the Bahama Special have heavy lead eyes to help them sink the bulky materials. Big fish eat big flies!

As Bahamas Bones tend to be bigger than the fish you’ll find in Mexico or Belize, take strong tippet or you’re going to need more flies. Here are a few special flies to add to your collection…

Kwan size 4 Tan

Fur Shrimp size 4

Swimming Shrimp size 6

Super Swimming Shrimp sizes 4, 6

Slider size 4

Exuma Mini Puff size 4 Tan or Pink

Marabou Shrimp sizes 2, 6 Tan, Pink, or White

Ragin’ Cravin sizes 4, 6

Bahama Special size 4 Tan or Olive Tan

Squimp size 6

Golden Mantis Shrimp size 4

Bonefish Scampi size 6

Beck’s Sili Legs size 4-6 Pearl

Crazy Charlie size 4-6 Pearl, Tan, or Pink

Gotcha size 2-6

Gold Gotcha size 2-6 (my favorite Bahamas fly)

Permit can be found on some islands during certain times of the year. Always carry a few crab patterns and have a rod at the ready. Del’s Merkin or Raghead crab in sizes 4-1/0 will work as well as any. Tarpon, Jacks, Snapper and Cuda are also fair game. Although Tarpon are not found everywhere in the Bahamas, they can show up and it never hurts to have a few Deceivers or Sea Habits in your box. Those will work for the Jacks too. Snapper will take bonefish flies, Clouser Minnows being a good choice. Cuda will eat the baitfish patterns or a Needlefish fly. Remember the wire tippet.

As you can see there has been a real “go to” fly for Christmas Island. Take lots. Your other Basic Bonefish flies will also work well, but it’s hard to beat the CIS in orange. For the Korean Wreck you might want some lighter flies as you will hang up on the coral with the heavy stuff.

Besides Bonefish, Travalley provide the action for the big fish lover. Big poppers, Sea Habits and Deceivers will get their attention. GTs and Bluefin will grab those patterns as long as they’re moving fast. Golden Travalley will eat bonefish flies or crab patterns.

There is also a good bluewater fishery on Christmas, but that’s a whole other story…

Belize has much the same type of flats that you find in Mexico’s Yucatan. Most of the following patterns work well in both places. A few are special to Belize and the Turneffe Island area. Add these to your Bonefish Basics.

There are as many bonefish fly patterns used today as there are anglers using them. With that many options it’s hard to choose what you need for your trip unless you’ve been there before or know someone that has. If this is your first time bonefishing or twentieth, here’s a list of the flies that should be in your box no matter where you’re heading. Start with this selection and add specialty patterns as needed. Remember you need to have a good selection of sizes and sink rates. This is what I call…

These are the basics. You could travel anywhere and catch fish with these patterns. You’ll want a good selection of sizes and sink rates. Make sure you have plenty for your fishing partner too! Now take a look at suggestions for specific destinations.